Coming to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Test series, New Zealand were bowled out for 259 runs in the first innings of the second Test against India at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. Stars of the previous match, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra shone with the bat on day 1 by hitting half-centuries, while Washington Sundar shone with a 7-wicket haul on his Test return after 45 months.
After opting to bat first, New Zealand were looking in a decent position to post a big total in the first innings. After losing two wickets for 76 runs, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra put up a partnership of 62 runs for the third wicket. Conway got out after scoring 76 runs off 141 balls, while centurion of the previous match, Ravindra scored 65 runs off 105 deliveries.
Washington Sundar scalps 7 wickets on Test return
For India, Ravichandran Ashwin took the first three wickets of New Zealand sending skipper Tom Latham, Will Young and Devon Conway back to the crease. After that, Washington Sundar, who last played a Test match for India in January, 2021 took all the remaining seven wickets to register his best figures in Test cricket for India. The right-arm spinner registered figures of 7/59 as New Zealand posted 259.
Coming to bat on day 1, India had a poor start as they skipper Rohit Sharma went for a nine-ball duck at the score of just 1 run. Tim Southee cleared his stumps in the last ball of the third over to give New Zealand the first breakthrough. India finished day one at the score of 16/1 with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill to resume to play for the hosts on day 2.
